Rainy Day Activities for Toddlers: Keeping Little Ones Engaged Indoors

Making the Most of Rainy Days with Kids

Let’s be honest—rainy days can test your patience. The kids are bouncing off the walls, the dog refuses to go outside, and you’re one cup of coffee away from losing it. But don’t worry, I’ve got you. Instead of battling boredom (and your sanity), lean into the cozy chaos with simple, engaging activities that keep little hands busy and little minds growing. Bonus? You don’t need to be a Pinterest parent to pull these off.

1. Pipe Cleaner & Straw Bracelets

Perfect for tiny hands that love to thread, twist, and create. It’s like jewelry-making but without the beads rolling under the couch, never to be seen again.

What You’ll Need:

• Pipe cleaners
• Cut-up straws

How To:

• Hand your child a pipe cleaner and let them slide straw pieces onto it.
• When they’re satisfied (or distracted), twist the ends together to form a bracelet.

Why It’s Awesome: Develops fine motor skills, encourages creativity, and sneaks in early math practice with patterns.

2. Frozen Paint Watercolors

Because regular painting is too predictable. Let’s freeze the fun and turn it into a mini science experiment.

What You’ll Need:

• Washable paint
• Ice cube tray
• Jumbo craft sticks

How To:

• Mix paint with a little water and pour into an ice cube tray.
• Stick a craft stick in each section and freeze.
• Once solid, let your child paint with the melting cubes.

Why It’s Awesome: Messy but magical. It combines sensory play, color mixing, and a little bit of science as the paint shifts from solid to liquid.

3. Shaving Cream Painting

Like finger painting, but with fluff. And a side of giggles.

What You’ll Need:

• Foam shaving cream
• Washable paint
• A plastic tray or baking sheet

How To:

• Squirt some shaving cream onto the tray.
• Drizzle in some paint and let the kids swirl and mix with their fingers or a craft stick.
• Press a piece of paper onto the masterpiece for a cool marbled print.

Why It’s Awesome: It’s sensory fun that doubles as an art project and strengthens fine motor skills.

4. Muffin Pan Ball Tape Challenge

A low-effort, high-entertainment game that’s oddly satisfying.

What You’ll Need:

• A muffin pan
• Ball pit balls
• Painter’s tape

How To:

• Pop a ball into each muffin pan section.
• Tape over the top in a crisscross pattern.
• Let your child peel the tape to rescue the balls.

Why It’s Awesome: Peeling tape = fine motor skill workout. Plus, toddlers love an easy challenge.

5. Coffee Can Color Sort

A DIY sorting game that turns your recyclables into a learning tool.

What You’ll Need:

• A coffee can (or any container with a lid)
• Colored craft sticks
• Matching colored markers

How To:

• Cut slits in the can lid and color-code each one.
• Have your child match the craft sticks to the correct slit.

Why It’s Awesome: Teaches color recognition, categorization, and fine motor coordination—without buying yet another toy.

6. Shape Stamp Painting

Because shapes are more fun when they’re messy.

What You’ll Need:

• Washable paint
• Plastic shape blocks (or cookie cutters)
• Cardstock

How To:

• Secure a sheet of paper to the table.
• Dip shapes in paint and stamp away.
• Name the shapes as you go.

Why It’s Awesome: It reinforces shape recognition, encourages creativity, and keeps little hands moving.

7. The Cutting Box

For kids who love scissors but need a safe space to practice (instead of your mail).

What You’ll Need:

• Recyclable items (cardboard, magazines, toilet paper rolls)
• Training scissors
• A shallow box or tray

How To:

• Fill a box with various materials to cut.
• Hand over the scissors and let them go to town.

Why It’s Awesome: Strengthens hand muscles, builds scissor skills, and gives kids a sense of independence.

8. Letter Magnet Color Sort

A sneaky way to mix early literacy with hands-on play.

What You’ll Need:

• A roll of white paper
• Letter magnets

How To:

• Tape the paper to the fridge and divide it into color-coded sections.
• Have your child sort the letter magnets by color.

Why It’s Awesome: It reinforces letter recognition and color matching—without requiring a worksheet.

9. Play Outside Anyway

Yes, really.

What You’ll Need:

• Rain boots
• Waterproof jackets
• Zero expectations of staying dry

How To:

• Open the door.
• Let them stomp in puddles, dance in the rain, and experience the outdoors in a whole new way.

Why It’s Awesome: It burns off energy, builds resilience, and reminds kids that rain is just water—it won’t melt them (or you).

When the Rain Won’t Quit…

Rainy days don’t have to mean cabin fever. A little creativity goes a long way in keeping kids entertained while sneaking in some learning along the way. So next time the weather keeps you inside, grab a pipe cleaner, some frozen paint, or just embrace the rain. Either way, you’ve got this.

Rainbow Pipe Cleaners

Rainbow Plastic Straws

Kitchen Helper Stool

Washable Paint

Plastic Ice Cube Trays

Jumbo Craft Sticks

Art Smock

Paint Palette

Paint Tray

White Cardstock

Foam Shaving Cream

Treat Sticks

Ball Pit Balls

Muffin Pan

Painter’s Tape

Colored Permanent Markers

Colored Craft Sticks

Shape Sorter Toy

Toddler Training Scissors

Letter Magnets

Uppercase Magnetic Letters

Uppercase/Lowercase Magnetic Letters

PALS Socks

Paper Roll

Sterilite Plastic Shoebox